Lady&#39;s handbag and the like



July 7, 1942. s. R. GoLDsMlTH LADYS HANDBAGAND THE LIKE Filed April 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 7, 1942. s. R. GoLDsMlTl-l LADYYS HANDBAG AND THE LIKE Filed April' 19, 1941 2 SheelZS--Sheeil 2 INVENTOR P G'OZDSM/TH l. y

Y ATTORNEY I Y. AMI/EL Patented July 7, 1942 f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LADYS HANDBAG AND THE LIKE Samuel It. Goldsmith, New Yrk,N. Y. Application April 19, 1941, Serial INo. 389,368

8 Claims.

This invention relates to handbags and deals more particularly with structures incorporating pockets including folding pockets in the nature of billfolds.

The invention has for its primary object the provision of a handbag or similar structure in which are incorporated a plurality of pockets one of which is a folding pocket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of pockets in a handbag or the like and to employ one closure means for al1 of said pockets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag structure, such as, indicated in which the pockets are readily accessible although so placed as not to interfere with ready access to the interior of the bag.`

A further object is to provide a bag structure incorporating so called hidden or secret pockets in addition to a folding pocket and to employ common closure means for all of said pockets.

The invention is capable of realization in many ways as evidenced by the accompanying drawings in which certain preferred embodiments thereof are illustrated. The invention may, with equal facility, be applied to bags having frames and to frameless bags. While particularly applicable to handbags, desired forms of the invention may be applied to luggage, briefcases, school bags, etc.

With the foregoing in mind, reference is now made to the drawings embodying preferred structures as at present conceived.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a handbag vin open condition and 'incoporating pocket structures, such` as contemplated herein, the pockets being shown closed;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the structure of Fig. 1, the pockets being shown open;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View through a handbag, the section being taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a handbag incorporating a modified pocket structure and wherein said structure is carried by a hinged panel swingable to a position outside the bag for ready access to the pockets therein;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of afragment of a panel provided with a further modified form of pocket structure;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View thereof as taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a front view of a fragment of a panel provided with still-another form of pocket structure; and

Fig. 8 is a front view, with parts broken away of a frame bag and incorporating a typical pocket structure, such as contemplated herein.

In that form of the invention which is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a conventional form of handbag comprising a front wall IU, a rear wall II, a bottomIZ, and side gussets I3, is shown. In the usual manner the walls I6, II and 'I2 are preferably stiffened as by means of substantially rigid panels I4, a lining I5 being then applied to cover said panels.

In the bag thus formed the lining I5 for the rearrwall I I is formed with an elongated opening I6, p-referably adjacent the upper edge of said rear Wall. A row of stitching, such as I'I, is employed for fastening a slide fastener Stringer or tape I8 to the upper portion of said elongated opening and extending lthe entire length thereof. This same row of stitching may also be utilized' for securing into place one Wall I9 of a pocket 20, the other wall of which is fastened by stitching 2| to the lower edge of the mentioned elongated opening. It will be seen that the pocket 20 is disposed between the rear wall I'I of the handbag and the liningIS of said wall opening I6 forms the mouth for pocket 29.

A transversely foldable pocket generally designated 22 is preferably formed in the manner of a billfold and is secured to the lining I5 of the bag walll I I as by means of a row of stitching 23 at one end of the elongated opening I6 and by a vrow of stitching 24 at a point nearer the other end of said elongated opening. Between said rows of stitching 23 and 24, and at the bottom fold 25 of said foldable pocket, a transverse line of stitching 26 may serve to secure that portion of the foldable pocket to the lining I5. In this simple manner, a second pocket 2l' is formed, said pocket being defined by the lining I5, one wall 28 of the foldable pocket and the lines of stitchingv 2,3, 24 and 26.

The foldablepocket 22 is preferably formed of a single pieceof material folded as mentioned at 25 to form the mentioned wall 23 and an inner wall 29. This piece of material forming the foldable pocket maybe lined as desired.

For that portion of its length which is disposed between the lines of stitching 23 and 24, the top edge of the foldable pocket is preferably coextensive With a portion of the elongated opening I6. This length represents substantially one-half the length of said foldable pocket, the remaining one-half ybeing free to assume either of the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The slide fastener tape having cooperative relation with the mentioned tape I8 is secured to the upper edge of the mentioned free portion of the pocket and to the remaining portion of the lower edge of the elongated opening I5 at which no portion of the pocket is secured. Such a tape is shown at 38 being secured by the stitches 2| and 3| to the lower edge of the elongated opening and to the upper edge of the foldable pocket, respectively,

In the usual manner a slider 32 is employed for engaging and dis-engaging the conventional fastener elements on the tapes I8 and 30. As seen in Figs. 1 and 3 when the slide has been moved to the left so as to cause engagement of the mentioned fastener elements the foldable pocket 22 is in folded condition and completely closed to access by the described fastener means. It is obvious that the pocket 20 and the pocket 21 are also closed to access in this condition of the structure. When access is desired to the foldable pocket the slide is moved to the right and the freed end of the foldable pocket mayrthen be swung to the position shown in Fi'g. 2 to give access to said pocket and also to the pockets 20 and 21.

It may be desired at times to obviate the possible interference of the front wall I0 of the bag with ready manipulation of the pocket structure.

To this end said pocket structure may be incorporated `upon 'a swingable panel 3-5 secured as by a line of stitching 36 'to preferably the rear wall II of the handbag. It is obvious that the entire panel 35 may be left out of the interior of the bag and arranged to be disposed upon the front wall f I0 thereof giving complete and ready access to the various pockets carried thereby. This structure is illustrated in Fig. 4 and also incorporates a modification of the pocket structure shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This modification 'comprises a gusset 31 formed in the panel 35 at one side of the elongated opening, so as to permit a larger opening of the pocket 28a than would be possible in the previously described structure. In other respects the modification vshown in Fig. 4 follows thatpreviously described.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 makes use of a fabric hinge 4D upon which the foldable pocket 22a is mounted so that the latter may be readily swung from a position within the interior of the bag to one where more ready access can be had thereto. The panel 4I 'in Figs. -5 and 6 represents either the lining I5 or the panel `35 of the previously described forms of the invention. The fabric hinge '40 is fastened t'o the upper edge of the elongated 'opening I5 'as by stitching 42, said stitching also serving to secure one wall 43 of a pocket 44 disposed to the rear of the panel 4 I. The other wall 45 of said pocket is secured as by stitching 46 along the lower edge of the elongated opening IB. The securing means in this instance comprises the tapes V41 and 48, each provided with fastener elements interlockingly engageable as by the slider48. The tapes 41 and 48 are each respectively stitched as at 50 and 5I to the respective outer walls 52 and 53 of the foldable pocket 22a. Said pocket is formed with the respective inner walls 54 and 55, in the manner previously described.

When the slider 49 is moved to the left to inter y lock the fastener elements on the tapes 41 and 48, the pocket 42 is in folded condition and access to the interior thereof may not readily be had. In this condition by raising the pocket on the fabric hinge 48, access may be had to the pocket 44.

When access is desired to the interior of the foldable pocket, the slider 49 is moved to the right, and the pocket unfolded on its fold line 56, so that access may be had to the interior thereof as defined by the outer walls 52 and 53, and the inner walls 54 and 55.

In order to obviate the pocket 22a from freely swinging within the interior of the handbag, a retaining strap, such as, shown at 51 may be employed. When the pocket is tucked behind this strap, that is, between it and the panel 4I it is effectively held in position against undue swinging. The pocket is merely slipped from behind the strap when access is desired thereto.

It is to be noted that the closure means, such as the complementary fastener elements are disposed at substantially a right angle with respect to the transverse fold of the pocket or billfold 22 or 22a.

A further modification of the invention is illustrated in Fig. '1 wherein one of the fastener tapes E0 is fastened in the opening I5 as heretofore and the other 6I is fastened along the top edge of the foldable pocket 22h.

The portion 62 of the foldable pocket 22h carries the fastener tape 6I and is preferably disposed to the outside of the portion 53 of the foldable pocket. When the slider 48 is moved to the left, the pocket 22D will be held in such a manner as to prevent unfolding thereof along its fold line 84. The retaining strap 51 may be employed as above described.

As shown in Fig. 8, the invention may also be applied to bags provided with frames. In the form illustrated the bag 10 provided with a frame 1I carries within it a second bag 12 provided with a frame 13, the frames 1I and 13 being hingedly connected in a well-known manner. The wall 14 of the bag 12 may be provided with a pocket structure, the structure of Fig. 1 being illustrated.

It is obvious from the foregoing that the invention is capable of being practiced in many different ways. Although the pocket structure in each instance has been shown at one side of a bag or a panel, it may be placed in the middle thereof or at any desired point. Inasmuch as it is obvious that the invention is capable of being incorporated in other forms, the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims should not be limited by the specific terminology employed in this disclosure.

Although there has been shown in the drawings, by way of example, slide fasteners for maintaining the billfold in folded condition and connecting the same to a wall or ap of a ladys handbag, it is understood that any other suitable means may be employed for either holding the billfold in folded condition or making connection thereof to said wall or flap.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a. handbag or the like, a plurality of pockets including a superimposable transverselyfolding pocket, and closure means for said folding pocket, said closure means being disposed at a right angle to the transverse fold of said pocket and comprising respective sets of fastener elements, one of said sets being carried by the handbag and above the entrances to said pockets and the other cf said sets being carried by a portion of said folding pocket whereby said pockets are rendered inaccessible upon transverse folding of said pocket and engagement of said elements.

2. In a handbag or the like, a transverselyfoldable pocket, and closure means for said pocket, said closure means being disposed at a right angle to the transverse fold of said pocket and comprising engageable members, one of said members being carried by the handbag and adjacent the entrance to said pocket and the other of said members being carried by a portion of said pocket whereby said pocket becomes inaccessible upon transverse folding of said pocket and engagement of said members.

3. In a handbag or the like, a panel secured at one of its edges to the interior of said handbag and adapted to be positioned outside said bag, a transversely-foldable pocket on said panel, and a closure means for said pocket, said closure means being disposed at substantially a right angle to the transverse fold of said pocket and comprising respective Sets of fastener elements, one of said sets being carried by the handbag and Substantially abovethe entrance to said pocket and the other of said sets being carried by said pocket whereby Said pocket becomes inaccessible upon transverse folding of said pocket and engagement of said elements.

4. In combination with a wall of a handbag or the like, a lining for said wall, a transversely foldable pocket secured to said lining, said lining being formed with an elongated opening at least as long as half the length of Said pocket, a slide fastener having a member fastened to the upper edge of said elongated opening and disposed along the length thereof, said fastener having a Second member fastened to a portion of the lower edge of said opening and to a portion of the upper edge of said foldable pocket, and means to engage said members to close said pocket in transverse folded condition.

5. In a handbag a member, a Stringer having slide fastener elements secured to said member, a foldable billfold longer than said Stringer secured for a portion of its length to said member and having a portion of its mouth adjacent to and coeXtensive with at least a portionv of said Stringer, a pocket adjacent said member and said billfold, said pocket having a mouth coextensive with said Stringer, a second Stringer having slide fastener elements complementary to the aforementioned slide fastener elements, said second Stringer secured to the free portion of said billfold and being coextensive with said first mentioned stringer, and a slide for interengaging respective complementary fastener elements on said stringers whereby said pocket may be closed and said billfold maintained in folded condition simultaneously.

6. In a handbag a member, a Stringer having slide fastener elements secured to said member, a transversely foldable billfold longer than said Stringer secured for a portion of its length to said member and having a portion of its mouth adjacent said Stringer, a second Stringer having slide fastener elements complementary to the aforementioned slide fastener elements, said second Stringer secured to the free portion of said billfold and being substantially coextensive with said rst mentioned Stringer, and a slide for interengaging respective complementary fastener elements on said stringers whereby said billfold may be maintained in inaccessible transverse-folded condition.

7. In a handbag, a Wall, a pocket at the rear of said Wall, a longitudinal opening in said wall providing a mouth for said pocket, a Stringer having slide fastener elements secured to one edge of said opening and extending the entire length thereof, a foldable billfold longer than said opening Secured to said wall and having a portion of its mouth adjacent to and coextensive with a portion of said opening, a second Stringer having slide fastener elements complementary to the aforementioned slide fastener elements, said Second Stringer secured adjacent an edge of said billfold extending the remaining portion of its mouth and secured adjacent the other edge of said opening extending the remaining portion of said opening, and a slide for interengaging respective complementary fastener elements on said stringers whereby simultaneously the mouth of said pocket may be closed and said billfold maintained in folded condition.

8. In a handbag a member, a fastener Stringer secured to said member, a transversely-foldable pocket longer than said Stringer secured for a portion of its length to said member and having a portion of its mouth adjacent Said Stringer, a

second fastener Stringer secured to the free porti-on of said pocket and being substantially coextensive with said rst mentioned Stringer, and slide means for engaging said stringers whereby Said pocket may be maintained in inaccessible transverse-folded condition.

SAMUEL R. GOLDSMITH. 

